I was afraid that I could guess.

But I must have it from his lips, and be able to explain away the mystery which, when it recurred to him in the future, might make him doubt me, even though in this moment of exaltation he did not doubt.
"Yes, speak of it," I said.

"All the more because it is nothing.

For it _can_ be nothing." "I want to punish myself for asking an explanation about Godensky, by not allowing you to explain this other thing," insisted poor, loyal, repentant Raoul.

"Then--at the time--it made all the rest seem worse, a thousand times worse.